£6 million Benfica target Vladan Kovacevic turned down a move to Rangers earlier this year in favour of staying put in Poland, his former goalkeeping coach Adnan Salman tells TSF
It didn’t take long for the Rakow Czestochowa ‘keeper to pour a bucketload of cold water on those rumours.
Shortly after The Herald reported that Rangers had showed an interest in the Ekstraklasa Goalkeeper of the Season, Kovacevic put pen to paper on a new long-term deal at a side who finished just five points off top spot in 2021/22.
Not that the 24-year-old Bosnian is expected to see out that contract. Portuguese giants Benfica have made Kovacevic their number one target to replace Odysseas Vlachodimos in Lisbon, with Kasper Schmeichel’s departure from Leicester City set to send a ripple through the goalkeeping market.
“I have an offer from Benfica,” explains the £6 million-rated shot-stopper (Sport). “But we’ll see what will happen. If this transfer takes place, it would be very positive.”
Vladan Kovacevic could replace Vlachodimos at Benfica
According to Salman, who worked with Kovacevic back home at FK Sarajevo, the 6ft 4ins colossus turned down Rangers’ advances because he felt that he was already in the right place to continue his development.
Benfica are unlikely to greeted with such disinterest, however. Not with Kovacevic so intrigued about the prospect of putting pen to paper with a bonafide Champions League regular.
“He has evolved a lot in the Polish league,” says Salman. “He was named the best goalkeeper of the season there. But I believe he has not yet reached his full potential. I believe he can achieve something important at Benfica.”
Is Kovacevic perfect for Benfica?
The famously free-wheeling, high-pressing style employed by head coach Roger Schmidt at the Estadio da Luz will take some getting used to. But Kovacevic, Salman says, should have few problems adapting to a ‘sweeper-keeper’ role in the Portuguese capital.
“Benfica’s style of play is offensive,” he explains. “But here in Sarajevo he faced the same type of obligations. He is used to a possession-based game, having to play higher up the pitch; Playing as if he were a centre-back.
“This way, I believe he won’t have problems at Benfica.
“He has a good stature, he is tall, a modern goalkeeper. He also has good technique with his feet.”
Rangers, meanwhile, have placed their pursuit of a new number one on the backburner for the time being. The evergreen Allan McGregor was rewarded for a fine 2021/22 campaign with a contract extension. While Jon McLaughlin was nothing if not an assured presence during the nervy 2-1 win over Livingston this weekend.
But, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s two shot-stoppers boasting a combined age of 74, Rangers cannot kick the can down the road forever.
